St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 27 E. Main St., Mount Joy, will celebrate the season of Advent beginning with a healing service on Sunday, Nov. 27, the first Sunday of Advent. This year's theme is "In Plain Sight."

During Advent, the church will have a Facebook scavenger hunt. Each week, there will be a posted challenge to find the Advent object that will be featured in the message that Sunday. Participants can take a photo of what they find and post it on http://www.facebook.com/ConnectStMarks; the participant whose post receives the most likes each week will be awarded a gift card.

An Advent Bible study, "Prepare the Way for the Lord," will start on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 6:30 p.m. A Zoom option will be available and possibly a 1 p.m. session, if there is interest. Copies of the book are available for purchase, but individuals do not need to buy a book to participate.

To share blessings during Advent, the church will distribute a reverse Advent calendar with a list of food items that Mount Joy Helping Services needs. Each day, participants can place the daily item in a box. Boxes can be brought to church weekly or on Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24, when all the boxes will be dedicated during worship services at 1 and 7 p.m.

Starting Sunday, Nov. 27, St. Mark's will begin collecting warm hats, gloves, scarves, and socks, which will be hung on a line outside the Ministry Center. Anyone who has a need can take what they need.

A photo booth will be set up in the church Welcome Center for families to take Christmas photos. In addition to lighting Advent candles weekly, the church also will drop a candle banner outside the Welcome Center each Sunday to mark the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love.

For more information, visit http://www.connectstmarks.com or call 717-653-5493, ext. 222.